The De'Longhi All-in-One Coffee and Espresso Maker COM532M combines a drip coffee maker and a 15 bar pump espresso machine in one body, with a manual milk frother and a digital touchscreen. De'Longhi lists it at $319.95 on its US store.
What is the De'Longhi All-in-One Coffee and Espresso Maker COM532M?
It is a combination machine. One side brews a pot of drip coffee, the other pulls espresso, and a steam wand froths milk for cappuccino and latte. De'Longhi describes it as a machine that lets you stop choosing between authentic cappuccino, latte, espresso or your favorite coffee, and its page calls it a 4 Drinks model in grey.
The main feature is a Dual Heating System. De'Longhi says it lets you brew coffee and espresso at the same time with no waiting. The other named features are an Italian 15 bar pressure pump, an advanced manual frother, a spill-proof carafe, a Bold setting and a digital touchscreen with a 24-hour timer.
De'Longhi COM532M specs
| Model | COM532M, all-in-one coffee and espresso machine |
|---|---|
| Pump pressure | 15 bar |
| Heating | Dual Heating System, coffee and espresso at the same time |
| Milk | Advanced manual frother / steam wand |
| Controls | Digital touchscreen, 24-hour programmable timer, Bold setting |
| Carafe | Spill-proof carafe |
| Power | 1500 W, 115 V, 60 Hz |
| Color | Grey |
| Price | $319.95 |
Two figures on De'Longhi's page do not add up, so they are left out of the table. The water tank is listed as 1082.05 oz, which cannot be right for a machine this size, and the product weight appears as 13.54 lb in one place and 18.28 lb in another. The dimensions are given as 11.03 x 14.52 x 12.79 with no unit. The page does not give the carafe's size. Treat the exact size, weight and tank capacity as unconfirmed until you see the manual.
How does the Dual Heating System work?
On a machine that does two jobs, the usual worry is waiting between them. De'Longhi says its dual heating removes that wait, so both drinks can be made together. That matters if you want a pot of drip coffee for the table and a latte for yourself at the same time.
The espresso side uses a 15 bar pump, the same pressure figure De'Longhi uses on its smaller pump machines. The milk side is manual. The "Advanced Milk Frother/Steam Wand" creates what De'Longhi calls rich, dense milk foam, and you control it by hand rather than pressing a button for automatic froth. Nobody here has pulled a shot or steamed milk on it, so how well it works is the maker's claim.
The touchscreen and 24-hour timer cover the drip side. You can set the machine to have coffee ready when you wake, though the page does not say whether the timer also works for espresso.
De'Longhi COM532M vs Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System
The Ninja CFN601 Espresso & Coffee Barista System is the other combination machine, at $229.99. It uses Nespresso-style espresso capsules and ground coffee, has a 19 bar pump, a 1.77 liter tank, a built-in fold-away frother and 1550 watts, with a 1 year warranty.
The difference is how the espresso is made. The Ninja uses capsules, with a stated cost of around $0.90 each, so it is convenient and has a running cost. The De'Longhi has a pump and a steam wand, aimed at people who want to grind or buy ground coffee and froth milk by hand. It costs $90.00 more. If you want one-touch convenience and are happy with capsules, the Ninja is simpler. If you want hands-on espresso and drip together, the De'Longhi is built for that.
De'Longhi COM532M vs De'Longhi Stilosa EC260BK
The De'Longhi Stilosa EC260BK is De'Longhi's entry espresso-only machine at $104.99. It has the same 15 bar pump, a manual frother, a stainless steel boiler, a 1.0 liter tank, 1100 watts, a 4.3 kg body and a 1 year warranty. It does no drip coffee.
That is the real comparison: about $215.00 extra buys the drip side, the dual heating, the touchscreen, the timer and 400 more watts. If you only drink espresso and milk drinks, the Stilosa covers the same pump pressure for a third of the price. If someone at home wants plain coffee, the COM532M saves buying a second machine.
Is the De'Longhi COM532M worth it?
At $319.95 it is the most expensive of the three. What you are paying for is one footprint instead of two machines and the ability to brew both drinks at once. That is a real convenience in a small kitchen.
The cautions are specific. Key figures on the page contradict themselves, no grinder is listed, and the milk frother is manual. The store page shows a 3.5 rating from 870 reviews, a mixed score. De'Longhi's banner offers a warranty of up to 3 years, but the page does not state the length for this model, so confirm it before buying.
Who should buy the De'Longhi COM532M (and who should not)
Buy it if your household splits between drip coffee and espresso drinks, you have room for one machine and not two, and you are comfortable steaming milk by hand. It also fits people who like a programmable start.
Skip it if you want automatic milk froth, a built-in grinder, or a machine with confirmed weight and tank details. Skip it as well if you only drink espresso, since the Stilosa above does that for less, or if you want capsule convenience, where the Ninja is built for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the COM532M make coffee and espresso at the same time?
De'Longhi says its Dual Heating System allows you to brew coffee and espresso simultaneously with no waiting time.
What pump pressure does it use?
De'Longhi lists an Italian 15 bar pressure pump.
Does it have an automatic milk frother?
No. It has an advanced manual frother, which doubles as a steam wand, so you froth milk by hand.
Does it have a timer?
Yes. It has a digital touchscreen with a 24-hour timer, which De'Longhi says lets you wake up to freshly brewed coffee.
Does it have a built-in grinder?
De'Longhi does not list one on the page we read, so plan on using ground coffee.
How much does the COM532M weigh?
The page lists two different weights, 13.54 lb and 18.28 lb, so the weight is unconfirmed. Check the manual or the box.
